[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13645-13646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04702]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Draft Clean Air Act General Conformity Determination for 
U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-
1508), the Department of the Navy (DoN) has prepared and filed with the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS evaluates the potential 
environmental effects that may result from homebasing the U.S. Navy F-
35C (Joint Strike Fighter) aircraft at either Naval Air Facility (NAF) 
El Centro, California or Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California.
    In addition, pursuant to the USEPA's Clean Air Act (CAA) General 
Conformity Regulations (40 CFR part 93, subpart B), the DoN has 
prepared a Draft CAA General Conformity Determination, which is 
included in the Draft EIS, to address air emission impacts associated 
with proposed F-35C homebasing.
    With the filing of the Draft EIS (including the Draft CAA General 
Conformity Determination), the DoN is initiating a 60-day public 
comment period beginning on February 15, 2013 and ending on April 22, 
2013. During this period, the DoN will conduct two public meetings to 
receive oral and written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft CAA 
General Conformity Determination. This notice announces the dates, 
times, and locations of the public meetings and provides supplementary 
information about the environmental planning effort.

DATES: Public information and comment meetings will be held by the DoN 
to provide individuals with information on the Draft EIS and Draft CAA 
General Conformity Determination in an open house format. DoN 
representatives will be available at informational poster stations 
during the public meetings to clarify information related to the Draft 
EIS. The public meetings will be held between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. 
at each of the locations and dates listed below:

1. Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Lemoore Civic Auditorium, 435 C 
Street, Lemoore, California 93245.
2. Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Southwest High School, Multipurpose 
Room, 2001 Ocotillo Drive, El Centro, California 92243.

    Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, and interested 
groups and individuals are encouraged to provide comments in person at 
the public meetings or in writing anytime during the public comment 
period. At the public meetings, attendees will be able to submit 
comments in writing and orally to a stenographer who will listen to and 
transcribe comments. All statements submitted during the public review 
period, whether oral or written, will be given equal consideration, 
become part of the public record on the Draft EIS, and be responded to 
in the Final EIS. Comments received on the Draft General Conformity 
Determination during the 60-day public comment period will be 
considered fully before the DoN makes a Final General Conformity 
Determination. Written comments may be submitted via the U.S. Postal 
Service or electronically as described below.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft EIS for U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast 
Homebasing (with the Draft CAA General Conformity Determination) is 
available for electronic viewing or download at 
www.navyf35cwestcoasteis.com. Comments on the Draft EIS and Draft CAA 
General Conformity Determination can be submitted electronically via 
the project Web site or in writing to: Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, Southwest, Attn: Code EV21.AK (F-35C EIS Project Manager), 
1220 Pacific Highway, Building 1, 5th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132. All 
written comments must be postmarked or received online by April 22, 
2013 to ensure they become part of the official record.
    A paper copy of the Executive Summary or a single compact disc of 
the Draft EIS with the Draft CAA General Conformity Determination will 
be made available upon written request to the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 
Southwest, Attn: Code EV21.AK (F-35C EIS Project Manager), 1220 Pacific 
Highway, Building 1, 5th Floor, San Diego, CA 92132.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare this Draft EIS 
was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2011 (76 FR 5144). 
The DoN proposes to provide facilities and functions on the West Coast 
of the United States to support homebasing F-35C aircraft in the U.S. 
Navy Pacific Fleet. The purpose of the proposed action is to replace 
aging DoN Pacific Fleet FA-18 aircraft with F-35C aircraft while 
meeting pilot training and readiness requirements.
    The Draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental effects of 
three alternatives, including the No Action Alternative and two action 
alternatives. Alternative 1 analyzes F-35C homebasing at NAF El Centro. 
Alternative 2 analyzes F-35C homebasing at NAS Lemoore. The analysis 
addresses aircraft replacement and transition, facility and 
infrastructure requirements, personnel requirements, and aircraft 
operations in the airfield environment and in airspace within the 
vicinity of each installation.
    Significant adverse impacts are identified for noise, land use, 
socioeconomics, and ground traffic and transportation with 
implementation of Alternative 1, Homebasing the F-35C at NAF El Centro. 
No significant impacts are identified for any resource area with 
implementation of Alternative 2, Homebasing the F-35C at NAS Lemoore. 
No mitigation measures were identified during the development of the 
Draft EIS.
    While no basing decision has been made, Alternative 2, Homebasing 
the F-35C at NAS Lemoore, is the DoN's preferred home basing 
alternative because it would best meet mission requirements, would have 
fewer environmental effects, and would cost less.
    The DoN F-35C West Coast Homebasing Draft EIS with the Draft CAA 
General Conformity Determination was distributed to federal, state, and 
local agencies, elected officials, and other interested individuals and 
organizations. Copies of the Draft EIS with the Draft CAA General 
Conformity Determination are available for public review at the 
following libraries:

1. City of El Centro Public Library, 1140 North Imperial Avenue, El 
Centro, California 92243.
2. City of Imperial Public Library, 200 West 9th Street, Imperial, 
California 92251.
3. Imperial County Free Library, Holtville Branch, 101 East 6th 
Street, Holtville, California 92250.
4. Imperial County Free Library, Heber Branch, 1078 Dogwood Road, 
Heber, California 92257.
5. Imperial County Free Library, Seeley Library Services provided at 
the Seeley Community Church, 1774 West Rio Vista Street, Seeley, 
California 92243.

[[Page 13646]]

6. Kings County Library, Lemoore Branch, 457 C Street, Lemoore, 
California 93245.
7. Kings County Library, Hanford Branch, 401 North Douty Street, 
Hanford, California 93230.
8. Fresno County Public Library, Central Library, 2420 Mariposa 
Street, Fresno, California 93721.
9. Fresno County Public Library, Riverdale Branch Library, 20975 
Malsbary Avenue, Riverdale, California 93656.
10. West Hills College Lemoore Library, 555 College Avenue, Lemoore, 
California 93245.


    Dated: February 13, 2013.
C. K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-04702 Filed 2-27-13; 8:45 am]
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